A terminal degree is the highest credential available in a particular field of study or profession. In the United States, that often means a doctorate, but not always: an MFA can be terminal in creative writing, and an MLIS can be the appropriate terminal credential for librarians. Rather than asking “What degree comes after a master’s?”, ask “What degree does this field recognize for the work I want to do?”
What a terminal degree means in your field
Here, “terminal” means endpoint, not something fatal. A terminal degree is the highest level of education a college or university awards in a chosen field, or the highest qualification commonly expected in that profession. The term is used mainly in the U.S. higher-education system.
Before choosing a path, read faculty-job requirements and professional licensing expectations closely rather than assume that every field follows the same degree ladder.
Terminal degree versus non-terminal degree: the next step matters
A non-terminal degree leaves a customary higher academic step open. For example, a master’s in a research-oriented discipline may prepare you for a PhD program.
Research doctorates commonly require original research, data analysis, theory building, a dissertation, and a defense. A non-terminal master’s may include a thesis, but it does not necessarily require an original contribution to knowledge. Professional doctorates such as the JD or MD take a different route: a prescribed curriculum and a professional examination may replace a research dissertation.
Which degrees are considered terminal across fields?
| Field or path | Common terminal degree | What makes the example distinct |
|---|---|---|
| Research and academia | PhD | Built around original research and a dissertation. |
| Medicine | MD or DO | The highest professional degree for physicians in the United States. |
| Law | JD | The professional endpoint for most employers, even though the research-focused JSD exists. |
| Education leadership | EdD | A practice-focused doctorate; an EdD requires about 60 credits, while a PhD in Education requires at least 90. |
| Nursing | DNP or PhD in Nursing | The DNP serves advanced practice; the PhD serves nursing research. |
| Creative arts | Master of Fine Arts | An MFA is recognized as terminal in fields including creative writing, theater, film, and visual or performing arts. |
| Libraries | MLIS | The appropriate terminal degree for U.S. librarians, according to the American Library Association. |
Business administration and social work show why labels need context. In professional practice, an MBA is often treated as terminal, yet a DBA or PhD in Business is a higher academic option. For social work, the MSW is the professional entry degree, while the DSW and PhD in Social Work are terminal degrees. When no doctoral program exists in the field, or when doctoral study is not customary in practice, a master’s becomes terminal.
PhD, professional doctorate, and the work each prepares you to do
PhD stands for Philosophiae Doctor, or Doctor of Philosophy. In this title, “philosophy” reflects an older, broad meaning that covered many areas of knowledge, not a requirement to study philosophy itself. The modern PhD is a research degree built on an original contribution to knowledge.
A PhD is an academic doctorate. It differs in purpose from professional doctorates such as the EdD, DNP, or Doctor of Business Administration. Neither is “higher” than the other: both sit at doctoral level, but they solve different problems. For research, theory development, or research-focused academia, choose a PhD. For leadership or professional practice, consider a professional doctorate that applies inquiry directly to the work.
How you earn a terminal degree
The route depends on the degree type. A common academic sequence is bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctoral curriculum, comprehensive exams, dissertation, and defense. In some doctoral programs, students must pass three comprehensive exams before defending the dissertation. Programs also set deadlines: one university requires the dissertation defense within five years of the proposal defense, so check the rules of each program you consider.
- Define the career goal: faculty research, teaching, licensure, advanced practice, or leadership.
- Identify the terminal credential recognized in that field, not simply the most familiar degree title.
- Compare doctoral programs by their research or practice focus and their completion requirements.
- For professional paths such as law and medicine, account for the required licensing examination as well as the degree.
Online terminal degree programs are available for working adults. Many combine online coursework with short residencies for dissertation work, and some universities, such as Walden, Capella, and Purdue Global, offer fully online doctorates.
Cost depends heavily on funding. The Education Data Initiative puts the average total cost of a doctorate at $98,015 and average annual in-state doctoral tuition at public universities at $13,861. More than 81.3% of doctoral students cover part of their costs through scholarships, graduate assistantships, teaching appointments, or research grants. Still, borrowers with federal loans leave with an average of $92,399 in debt, so compare funded and unfunded offers carefully.
What a terminal credential can change for your career
Many full-time faculty positions expect a terminal degree in the discipline, especially for tenure-track roles and promotions. At four-year colleges, postsecondary teaching typically requires a doctorate in the subject taught.
In 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, median weekly earnings were $2,307 for people with a doctoral degree, $2,294 for those with a professional degree, and $1,876 for those with a master’s degree. Unemployment that year was 1.8% for doctoral degree holders and 2.6% for master’s degree holders. These figures describe groups, not a promise of a particular salary; field, role, and career opportunities still matter.
Common terminal-degree myths that can send you down the wrong path
“Every terminal degree is a PhD.”
No. The MD, DO, JD, EdD, and DNP are doctoral examples with different purposes, and the MFA and MLIS show that a terminal degree can be a master’s.
“A PhD is the hardest degree.”
No objective ranking settles difficulty. PhD completion time varies sharply by field: median time is 8.8 years in social science and 9.7 years in the humanities and arts, and some PhD programs have attrition above 50 percent.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest degree you can earn in college?
In the United States, a doctorate is the highest academic degree, at ISCED level 8. Common examples include a PhD and an equivalent professional doctorate, though a terminal master’s may be the highest degree available in a particular field.
How long does it take to earn a terminal degree?
The timeline varies by credential and field. For PhDs, median completion time ranges from 6.0 years in the natural sciences to 12.3 years in education; in 2022, the overall median time to complete a doctorate was 7.2 years.
What does “PhD” mean?
PhD stands for the Latin Philosophiae Doctor, or Doctor of Philosophy. It is a research-focused academic doctorate.
Is an MBA a terminal degree?
It is often considered terminal in business practice, but it is not the highest academic option because a DBA or PhD in Business can follow it.
What are the benefits of earning a terminal degree?
It can meet a hiring requirement for faculty roles, support advancement in a profession, and show advanced education in your field.
What are the requirements for earning a terminal degree?
Research doctorates usually require doctoral coursework, comprehensive exams, a dissertation, and a defense. Professional doctorates such as the JD or MD replace the dissertation with a set curriculum and a licensing exam, such as the bar exam or the USMLE.
